Firefighter Holding a Child Wearing a Scarf and Fur Hat... Warm Winter Moments

A bouquet was also placed in front of the names of 139 heroes
42 firefighters have died in the line of duty over the past decade

Despite the arrival of Ipchun (the beginning of spring), severe cold waves continue nationwide, and it has been reported that an anonymous citizen wrapped a firefighter and a child statue in a park with a wool hat and scarf. On the 4th, the Gyeonggi-do Fire and Disaster Headquarters announced that an anonymous citizen gifted a wool hat, scarf, and socks to the child statue of the firefighter and child in Haetae Park the previous afternoon.

An anonymous citizen gifted a beanie and scarf to the statue symbolizing the dedication and courage of firefighters, located in front of the Gyeonggi-do Fire Safety Maru at Haetae Park. Provided by Gyeonggi-do Fire Disaster Headquarters.

Haetae Park is a space established on the site of the Gyeonggi-do Fire Safety Maru to commemorate firefighters who died in the line of duty at various disaster scenes and social heroes who sacrificed themselves. In particular, Haetae Park honors the spirits of those who sacrificed for the nation and neighbors, including Fire Sergeant Park Jae-seok, who died in a gas leak accident at an apartment in Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do in 1996; Fire Sergeant Yoon Jae-hee, who died in a warehouse fire in Icheon-si in 2007; and Fire Lieutenant Lee Byung-gon, who died while suppressing a cable fire on the Seohae Bridge in 2015.

The statues in the park symbolize the dedication and courage of firefighters and express the hope that firefighters will return safely with citizens from various disaster scenes. The statue depicts a firefighter holding a child. It is also known that the anonymous citizen left a bouquet of flowers in front of the names of 139 fallen firefighters and heroes engraved behind Haetae Park.

On the 3rd, temperatures nationwide remained below freezing, resulting in very cold weather. Cho Sun-ho, head of the Gyeonggi-do Fire and Disaster Headquarters, who visited Haetae Park and saw this scene, said, "I am grateful that someone conveyed warm warmth amid the severe cold at the beginning of spring," and added, "Going forward, Gyeonggi-do firefighters will continue to do their best to protect the lives of the people."

Meanwhile, according to the Fire Agency's 'Risk Duty Death Statistics,' a total of 40 firefighters died in the line of duty from 2014 to 2023. Including two firefighters who died at a fire scene in Mungyeong in January last year, the total reaches 42. By type of duty, fire suppression accounted for the highest number with 15, followed by aviation with 10, rescue with 6, and life safety with 5.